Video: Steven Crowder gets the full union-thug experience

posted at 4:01 pm on December 11, 2012 by Allahpundit

When I saw his tweet this morning, I wondered if he had oversold what happened. Nope. Not only does one guy start throwing roundhouses, another yanks him back hard by his jacket collar and seems ready to jump him before people around them step in. A third guy curses him out and looks like he’s moments away from making a move of his own before Crowder backs off to cool him down. Why? Because the state decided they shouldn’t be able to force people to join their organization as a condition of employment. I’m not sure why they’re worried about that, frankly; given their tactics, who’d dare take a job working alongside these cretins while refusing to unionize? This is their version of an anti-RTW ad: If you’re thinking of exercising your freedom of association, make sure you think carefully. And not a single Democratic pol will say a word about it, beyond the most perfunctory “of course I deplore violence but…” statement wrung from their press team.

Between Occupy and the unions, the left is the major purveyor of political violence in America today.

Blowback

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Late to the party as usual – thought I would share a funny tidbit
about unions -

Years ago the teamsters were going on strike and semi trucks were
driving on Rt. 80 in Iowa, all abreast going 30 miles an hour.
None of us regular folk could get around them.

Of course, the state troopers were nowhere to be found, and since
this was prior to cell phones, we had no way to call them en masse.

One car got off an exit ramp, more cars followed, and soon there
was a caravan, myself included, thinking that the head car knew
a back way to get us around these creeps and back on 80 ahead of
them. Imagine our surprise when the head car pulled into his
driveway!!!

The rest of us were lost, fumbled around going down country lanes
until much later we found a connecting road to 80.

At any rate, unions have always been full of thugs; nothing new,
however, now there are cameras everywhere that catch their antics.

Tough stuff, but a bit before my time. I was thinking West Virginia in the late 50′s or the 60′s. Why would anyone want to be associated with these folks. I guess they think they are the equivalent of Civil Rights protesters.

Although I would like to see more conservatives stand up for our speakers, etc, on campuses by using a little physical obstruction against the fascist leftists….occasionally in the form of a right hook if need be.

It’s been fun watching lib FB friends either a) try to spin this (violence is never okay, but Crowder should have known something would happen attending such an emotion-fraught event) or b) ignoring it completely.

Once many eons ago my former spouse got sent to Chicago for AFSCME’s annual convention, and I went with. I was never much a big rah rah union person anyway, but that experience sure opened my eyes, I’ll tell ya. We were invited to a party (wholly paid for by a particularily large local somewhere in Chicago) that had a speakeasy theme and the food? Caviar, lobster, gallons of champagne, expensive stuff. We were told that that one party had cost in excess of a hunnert grand, and this in the early 80s. The keynote was Teddy K, and when he said “Do we want four more years of Ronald Reagan?” The hub and I yelled “YES!!”

Someone behind me hit the back of my head. It was fun, but we didn’t go to any more meetings after that.

I’m sorry, I know Crowder is some sort of hero around here, but I can’t stand his snarky attitude and his “humorous” way of talking. He reminds me of the self-important dude we all had in our college classroom who always had an opinion, shouted everyone else down, and was oh-so-cool at the same time. The one in my classroom had his hair all spiked up like Edward in Twilight.

I’d punch him if he got in my face too, and I agree with everything he says.

JoseQuinones on December 12, 2012 at 8:43 AM

That sounds very mature and non-self-important of you! Oh, I’m sorry, you were just joking, and only meant to show us what a great sense of humor you have?

Do We Really Have to Condemn the Union Protestor Who Punched Fox News Comedian Steven Crowder? — Good, serious progressives are supposed to condemn violence as a political tactic, because it’s wrong and in many cases counterproductive. But do we really need to condemn the union protestor …

1. The thug doing the punching is wearing an IBEW jacket. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. I hope he is in cuffs before the end of today AND if he’s an employee of the union hall they are charges as well.

2. The media is so far left that it makes center look like it’s on the right. Non-violent tea parties are portrayed as violent but actually violent leftist unions are not news.

3. This is why Rebublicans have to go on the non-violent attack against the media. Call them out every chance for their fraudulent bias.

4. Would have like to have Obama out but since we have to deal with him for 4 more years. What worries me is that the country has turned from land of hard workers to land of slackers….I am saddened every day for my children.

Congratulations on being able to rent a car. So do you think we should just do away with the 2nd Amendment while we’re at it?

Nutstuyu on December 12, 2012 at 1:42 PM

I didn’t suggest Crowder has no right to be obnoxious and in your face with people, I suggested he should do some hard thinking about how he presents his message. There’s always more than one way to say the same thing, and mocking people rarely gets them to change their mind.

Was I defending the union thugs? Tell me where I was defending the union thugs. I never defended their actions. I criticized Crowder, and I have long felt he needed to grow up.

As I said in my first comment on this article, even I would be tempted to clock him if he got all in my face. It’s not his message, it’s his manner and attitude. He annoys the heck out of people.

Is that defending the union stooges? No. They should be locked away for attacking him. But at the same time, his going in there and trolling for reactions, and then squalling on Fox News about the “brutal treatment” he received, is not helping anything.

But the Chubby Union Boy who took the swings at Crowder must be on estrogen and have muscles made of marshmallows. To land a roundhouse swing on somebody’s face and do as little damage as he did. . . .

he had better be real careful who and where he picks his fights. It looks like a moderate size middle school kid would be able to beat him to a pulp.

Have it your way then, Shaef. You can continue to think that Crowder’s behavior is perfectly acceptable and a fine form of conservative entertainment. I beg to differ. I think he’s making a fool of himself and leaving a bad taste in an awful lot of mouths. I think he damages the conservative movement with his antics.

Does he have a right to do it? Sure. Absolutely. But he’s making a total fool out of himself. One day he will grow up and look back on his videos with a mixture of chagrin and regret.

You can continue to think that Crowder’s behavior is perfectly acceptable and a fine form of conservative entertainment.

JoseQuinones on December 12, 2012 at 4:58 PM

But see, I have the luxury of taking my position regardless of whether I agree with his actions or not, because they are not illegal.

I don’t have to spend my time trying to parcel out the correct proportions of blame among the involved parties, because only one of them committed an illegal act of aggression against the other.

I don’t care whether Crowder changes his behavior or not, because there’s nothing wrong with what he’s doing. I wholeheartedly conclude the unioner should change his behavior, because we are not allowed to punch people.

But see, I have the luxury of taking my position regardless of whether I agree with his actions or not, because they are not illegal.

I don’t have to spend my time trying to parcel out the correct proportions of blame among the involved parties, because only one of them committed an illegal act of aggression against the other.

I don’t care whether Crowder changes his behavior or not, because there’s nothing wrong with what he’s doing. I wholeheartedly conclude the unioner should change his behavior, because we are not allowed to punch people.

The Schaef on December 12, 2012 at 5:10 PM

Okay, I was going to drop it there, but I have to defend myself on this. I am not assigning blame to anyone here, Schaef. Nor am I justifying, excusing, or trying to minimize misbehavior. You are twisting my words, completely twisting them. I said nothing from the very start about the punching per se, just the fact that Crowder is damaging the conservative cause. I may suspect that he welcomed the attack because it gave him the attention he craves, or I may believe he was an innocent victim here. That is immaterial. My complaint with Crowder is that he runs around recording his immature and irresponsible videos in a way that is offensive and annoying, and ultimately is damaging the conservative movement. He is in the business of entertaining conservatives, not educating and changing minds. Why can’t you see what I’m saying?

The punching has nothing to do with my point. Nothing at all. I could just as well have been commenting on one of his “Louder with Crowder” segments.

Probably because you said yourself that if he behaved that way towards you, you would feel inclined to… punch him in the face. Which I propose is a sharp departure from “nothing” with relation to the subject.

I think that you will find that both Mr. Whittle and Mrs. Malkin champion Mr. Crowder. Also, do you think for a moment that no one other than Mr. Crowder and associates were carrying cameras or cell phones with recording ability? The “gentlemen” with the union are certainly free to put up their video showing that Mr. Crowder deserved to be assaulted. You blew your argument way back at the beginning when you stated that Mr. Crowder’s action would insight you to near violence. I think you should give up while you are behind.

For the record, how do you think a 25-year-old man with a name like José Quiñones, from a family of welfare dependent Democrats (and a couple illegals), wound up as a small-government conservative Republican?

It was someone called Michelle Malkin getting up and doing her Hot Air Vents videos, and respectfully making me question all of my assumptions. The fact that she was pretty and a minority too may have kept me from clicking out sooner right at first, but the ideas she presented kept me locked on. Someone else needs to start doing those videos, pronto. And in Spanish as well.

We have a message of hope and freedom to present, folks. Let’s not muck it up with silliness.

We have a message of hope and freedom to present, folks. Let’s not muck it up with silliness.

JoseQuinones on December 12, 2012 at 7:59 PM

Great sentiment but two small things. First, you don’t expect us to avoid public demonstrations like that because we’re afraid of the confrontation. The left did it with the Tea Party rallies. And in going to those places to voice our opinion, you don’t expect us to keep turning a cheek to a violent hand?

Second, the Conservative Movement has a great varied population and personalities as different as night and day. Different Conservative figures appeal to different Conservative people. We need more not less.

Crowder and what he does is fine with me. And he deserves to be able to do it peacfully without being harmed by a thug.

As I said, you make it clear that you know that you are dumber and more immature than both Chowder and myself. Now, try trolling with your brutal, withering insults again – you know cannot help yourself! Thank you in advance for your continuing assistance! :)

As I said, you make it clear that you know that you are dumber and more immature than both Chowder and myself. Now, try trolling with your brutal, withering insults again – you know cannot help yourself! Thank you in advance for your continuing assistance! :)

Anti-Control on December 12, 2012 at 11:41 PM

Still arguing with drying paint?

You just can’t help yourself, can you? :)

I am eagerly awaiting your next reply, which I am sure won’t take too long because your life is obviously full of exciting things to do like replying to comments that bore you.

FLASHBACK: Jimmy Hoffa introducing Obama at a re-election campaign event declared to Obama/the crowd that the Unions were/are obama’s ‘Army’ and were/are willing to take to the streets to crack some heads / engage in violence if need be…..Obama then came out & – instead of rebuking Hoffa for such violent rhetoric, praised him for being such a great man & leader!

Hoffa should be in jail, along with all of his thugs that perpetrated this recent violence. Obama should be severely REBUKED by the media instead of them kneeling down to kiss his arse….

Unions have outlived their purpose, & – like Congress – has become corrupt & self-serving at others’ expense!

Great sentiment but two small things. First, you don’t expect us to avoid public demonstrations like that because we’re afraid of the confrontation. The left did it with the Tea Party rallies. And in going to those places to voice our opinion, you don’t expect us to keep turning a cheek to a violent hand?

Second, the Conservative Movement has a great varied population and personalities as different as night and day. Different Conservative figures appeal to different Conservative people. We need more not less.

Crowder and what he does is fine with me. And he deserves to be able to do it peacfully without being harmed by a thug.

hawkdriver on December 12, 2012 at 8:25 PM

There’s also the fact that these figures are no less the object of ridicule and scorn than Crowder for their presentation style, and Malkin in particular gets the blunt end of some of the most horrific language I have had the displeasure to witness outside of fictional drama. I’m glad that Jose was reasonable enough to consider conservative arguments on their merits, but I suspect if he had heard other people talk about Malkin before hearing her directly, he may never have watched at all, or watched through the progressive lens of LOLFAUXNOISE.

I can understand frustration at people who use sarcasm as a substitute for satire, or to draw attention to how clever they think they are; it’s been a modern phenomenon since at least Seinfeld, and reinforced by the likes of House (full disclosure: I watched House religiously; I just don’t talk to people like he does). But let’s be careful not to throw out the baby with the bathwater: some satire really is satire to illustrate a social or political point. We may or may not like that approach to discourse, but let’s not forget that Mark Twain was primarily a satirist in his writings, and many consider him to stand alone at the top of American literature.